WILD FLOWERS

Often councils get brickbats, but here's an email from a resident yesterday to one of the Focus Team Councillors. If your exercise has not taken you past the flowers, do look at the verges. All done by taking away the grass cuttings and spreading seeds. A public thank you to the staff who did this - and to the resident who took the time to email thanks, which have been passed on to the staff responsible.

GOOD NEWS FOR ROADSIDE VERGES AND THE WILDLIFE WHO THRIVE THERE

From March 2020, South Glos Streetcare will be trialling a new verges management policy using a pilot in the Yate area. This involves using a new ‘cut and collect’ mower which picks up cut grass instead of leaving it in situ. Collecting and tipping the grass nearby, helps to reduce the soil fertility of verges, which will encourage wildflowers to grow and in turn attract pollinating insects to the area. Cut grass will be carefully tipped in piles to provide shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife.